Rail-breaking machine



Dec. 18 1923. 1,477,582

. D. H. MILLER ET AL.

RAIL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I 27 30 f6? IE 40 130 l ,e V a A 40 O L a 4 a" Dec. 18, 1923. 1,477,582

D. H. MILLER ET AL RAIL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 18, 1923,

MFFED DAVID H. MILLER AND ABNER MILLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO METAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Application filed. December 22, 1921.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, DAVID H. MILLER and Arman MILLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Breaking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a rail breaking machine, the principal object of our invention being to provide a relatively simple, practical and efi icient machine that utilizes the force of fluid under pressure for breaking metal rails into relatively short sections in order that the latter may be readily placed in a melting furnace, and the form of machine herein illustrated and described is particularly designed for the breaking up of railway track rails that have become worn so as to render them unfit for service. Railway rails as now manufactured are formed from relatively tough steel and the rails when discarded may be remelted and utilized for a wide variety of purposes. The rails, being of considerable length, cannot be placed in a melting furnace until they are broken or divided into relatively short sections, and it is the purpose of our invention to provide a machine of relatively simple structure which may be economically operated for breaking up railway rails so as to facilitate the melting operations.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consists in the features of construction and combination and ar-.

rangment of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a rail breaking machine'of our improved construction;

Figure 2 is a. longitudinal section, taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 1 is a cross section taken approximately 011 the line d-l of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cros section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompany ing drawings, which'illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, designates a base, preferably of cast metal, and formed integrally therewith and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent to one end is a pair rollers 14: and force said rail into engage:

RAIL-BREAKING MACHINE.

Serial No. 524,264.

of posts or standards 11, the upper ends of which are tied together by a cross bar 12. Formed integrally with the base 10 and the lower portions of the standards 11 and on the inner sides thereof are blocks 13 in the upper portions of which are journaled rollers 14 that serve as rolling supports for the rails, such as R, that are to be broken in the machine. Secured in any suitable manner to the inner faces of the uprights 11 immediately above these rollers 14 are relatively heavy plates 15 of hardened metal, the inner vertical edges of which are slightly beveled, as designated by 16, and the corners between these beveled inner edges and the front faces of the plates are engaged by the rail as the same is forced toward the plates, thereby producing a shearing effect onithe rail which tends to cause the same to break at a point between the plates.

Formed integrally with and extending upwardly from base 10 adjacent to the end 0pposite to the end on which the uprights 11 are positioned is a pair of spaced posts or uprights 17, the upper ends of which are tied to each other by a cross bar 18, and connecting this cross bar with the cross bar 12 that ties the upper ends of the uprights 11 to each other are longitudinally disposed tie rods 19 that serve as tension stays for the upper portion of the frame of the machine. Secured on the central portion of base 10 and bearing against the inner face of the uprights or posts 17 is a horizontally disposed cylinder 20 provided in its forward end with a gland 21 which latter is effective in maintaining suitable packing rings 22 against an inwardly projecting annular flange 23 that is formed on the interior of cylinder 20. Arranged for reciprocating movement within the cylinder 20 is a plunger 24, the periphery of which bears against the inner faces of the annular flange 23, the packing rings 22 and the gland 21, and formed in the rear portion of said plunger 15 an axiallv disposed recess 25.

Secured in any suitable manner to the outer end of plunger 24 is a plate 26 on the outer face of which is formed. a pair of vertically disposed ribs 27 and removably positioned between said ribs is a punch 28 having a substantially wedge-shaped forward end 29 that is adapted to engage the web portion of a rail that is positioned on ment with the shearing edges of the plates 15. Plunger 28 is secured to plate 26 in wall of plunger 24 is a series of radially dis posed screws or bolts 31, the outer ends of which are adapted to engage the inner. surface of the cylinder 20, thereby providing a bearing for the rear portion of the plunger during its longitudinal movement within the cylinder and preventing said plunger from cantingor binding.

The rear end of cylinder is provided with a short axially disposed tubular extension 32 to the outer end of which is secured a plate 33, and passing through the center of said plate is a bolt 34, the head of which is positioned within the tubular extension 32. Nuts 35 are located on the threaded outer end of bolt 34 and swiveled upon the head of said bolt is a loop 36 to which is connected the rear end of a relatively heavy retractile spring 37, the forward end of which is secured to the forward portion of plunger 24. This spring is utilized for retracting the plunger or drawing it into the cylinder 20 after said plunger has moved forwardly to perform the rail breaking operation.

Arranged on the rear portion of the base 10 or to the rear of uprights 17 is a multicylinder pimip 38 for relatively heavy liquids, such as oil, and operating within the cylinders of said pump are pistons 39 that are retracted by means of yokes 40 that encircle eccentrics 41, the latter being secured on a shaft 42 that is ournaled in suitable bearings 43. These bearings are arranged on the upper portions of brackets 44 that project upwardly and rearwardly from uprights 17 and the upper ends of said brackets are tied to the rear portion of base 10 by vertically disposed tension rods 45.

Leading from a suitable source of liquid supply, preferably a tank 46, to the lower portions of the cylinders of pump 38 are liquid supply pipes, such as 47 each of which is provided with a suitable check valve 48, and leading from the various cylinders of the pump to inlet ports, such as 49, that are formed in the rear portion of cylinder 20 are pipes, such as 50, each of which is provided with a suitable check valve, such as 51.

Leading from the lower portion of the chamber within cylinder 20 to tank 46 is a liquid discharge pipe 52, in which is located a suitable valve 53.

The operation of our improved rail breaking machine is as follows: Rotary motion is imparted totshaft 42 by suitable driving connections, such as gearing, a belt and pulley, or sprocket chain and wheel, and the operation of the eccentrics 41 in the yokes 40 imparts vertical reciprocatory' movement to pump pistons 39. On the upward stroke of these pistons, liquid, such as oil, is drawn from supply tank 46 through pipes47 past check valves 48 into the pump cylinders and onthe downward strokes of the pistons the liquid thus drawn into the cylinders is forced through pipes 50 past check valves 51 and through ports 49 into the chamber'75 within cylinder 20. I As these operations continue, plunger 24 will be forcedforwardly through cylinder 20, and as this action continues the points of punch 28 will engage the web of a rail R positioned on rollers 14, and said rail will be forced against the inner edges of plates 15. As such continues, the rail will be bent at the point of engagement with the punch 28, thereby crystallizing the metal adjacent to the engaged portion, and as the pressure of the punch continues the rail will be broken at a point between the forwardend of punch 28 and the edges of plates 15.

After the rail is thus broken, the pump 9 38 is stopped and valve 53 is opened to per-- mit the liquid forced into the chamber within cylinder 20- to discharge into tank 46 through pipe 52 and as such action takes place the retractile spring 37, which -was expanded on the forward movement of plunger 24 will contract and draw said plunger rearwardly into the cylinder 20.

The rail R is now moved lengthwise a short distance, and the operations just described are repeated to break off another section of the rail.

A rail breaking machine of our improved construction is comparatively simple, is ver strong and durable, and is capable'of being 195 effectively and economically operated for the breaking of rails into relatively short sections and, consequently, facilitates the work preparatory to the melting of said rails. V 1

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our improved rail breaking machine may be made and substituted for 7 those herein shown and described. without departing from, the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims. r i

We claim:

1. A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder, a plunger arranged for. operation therein, a punch carried by one end of the plunger, means for delivering fluid under pressure into said cylinder .for'moving the plunger within the cylinder, and members 1% adjustable in the plunger and engaging the cylinder to prevent canting of the plunger. 2. A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder having a partially closed end to provide a reduced bore, a plate closing the W outer end of the reduced bore, an annular flange formed interiorly of the cylinder adjacent the opposite end thereof, a gland secured to the cylinder and cooperating with the flange for confining packing between the two, a plunger miovable within the cylinder and having an open end adapted for communication with the reduced bore of the cylinder, means for normally urging the plunger to one extreme position within the cylinder, a. rail support, a punch carried by the plunger, and means for moving the plunger against the tension of the aid means to force the punch in the direction of the rail support.

3. A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder, a plunger arranged for operation therein, a punch carried by one end of the plunger, means for delivering fluid under pressure into said cylinder for moving the plunger within the cylinder, and screws carried by the plunger and engaging the cylinder to prevent canting of the plunger.

at. A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder, a plunger arranged for operation therein, a punch carried by one end of the plunger, means for delivering fluid under pressure into said cylinder for moving the plunger within the cylinder, and screws carried by the plunger and engaging the cylinder to prevent canting of the plunger, said screws extending radially of the plunger and circumferentially spaced.

5. A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder having a partially closed end to provide a reduced bore, a plate closing the outer end of the reduced bore, an annular flange formed interiorly of the cylinder adjacent the opposite end thereof, a gland secured to the cylinder and cooperating with the flange for confining packing between the two, a plunger movable within the cylinder and having an open end adapted for communication with the reduced bore of the cylinder, a retractile spring secured tothe plunger and to said cover plate for normally urging the plunger to one extreme position within the cylinder, a "rail support, a punch carried by the plunger, and fluid pressure means for moving the plunger against the tension of the spring to force the punch in the direction of the rail support.

6.A rail breaking machine comprising a cylinder having a partially closed end to provide a reduced bore, a plate closing the outer end of the reduced bore, an annular flange formed interiorly of the cylinder adjacent the opposite end thereof, a gland secured to the cylinder and cooperating with the flange for confining packing between the two, a plunger movable within the cylinder and having an open end 7 adapted for communication with the reduced bore of the cylinder, a retractile spring secured to the plunger. and to said cover plate for normally urging the plunger to one extreme position within the cylinder, a rail support, a punch carried by the plunger, and fluid pressure means for moving the plunger against the tension of the spring to force the punch in the direction of the rail support, said fluid pressure means including a plurality of pumps, a cam shaft, and an operative connection between the cam shaft and the pistons of said pumps for effecting the simultaneous actuation of all of the pistons.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

DAVID H. MILLER.

ABNER MILLER. 

